Sole for boots or shoes



J. E. GROSJEAN.

SOLE FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1912.

Patented J une 22, 1920.

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wzwega UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIACE.

JAMES E. GROSJEAN, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OF ONE-FOURTH TO LEON F. MONTGOMERY, OF FORT RECOVERY, OHIO AND ONE-FOURTH TO FRANK L. MAIRE, OF LIMA, OHIO.

SOLE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. GRosJnAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Soles for Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in composite soles for boots or shoes of that type which has permanently and substantially integrally, incorporated therewith tread portions whose partsor components are arranged to produce anti-skid, and preferably also cushioning, effects. By the term sole.I refer to the whole sole or to any part thereof with which a tread portion of the character stated maybe incorporated, whether such tread portion extends over the whole sole or over the heel or over the sole in the ordinary or narrow sense of the term; 6., the forward portion of the whole sole which provides support for the ball of the foot and the toes.

ihe objects of the invention, briefly stated, are to facilitate and lessen the cost of manufacture of soles of the type referred to, to provide a sole which may be composed in principal part of textilefabric, e. g. canvas, with a minimum amount of rubber or equivalent vulcanizable material, and to provide a sole which shall have superior qualities in respect of flexibility and com fort, durability and cushion and anti-skid effects.

\Vith these objects in view the invention consists in certain features of structure and organization which will be set forth in detail as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a bottom plan view of a sole in which the features of the invention are incorporated, the same being shown in Specification of Letters Patent.

suitable cement or adhesive material.

Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed May 15, 1918. Serial No. 234,710.

views.

The improved sole includes a relatively thin and substantially flat base or backing 1 whose material is strong yet readily flexible. The base 1, which provides a reinforcement for the sole, is preferably composed of canvas and is preferably laminated, three connected plies having been foiind very satisfactory. As composed of canvas the base 1 may be fashioned from fresh stock or from reclaimed stock and in either case should be thoroughly impregnated with a compound of vulcanizable material. As reclaimed stock the canvas of old or discarded tire casings may be employed.

To the base 1 the-re is secured a tread port1on 2 which, as shown, is located in the forward portion of the whole sole but which may be extended throughout the whole sole or may be located or duplicated in the heel.

The tread portion 2 is composed principa-lly of textile material whose threads or strands are presented endwise to the tread urface and said tread portion is initially secured to the base 1, adjacent its underface, in any suitable manner but preferably by The textile material of the tread portion should be thoroughly impregnated with a compound of vulcanizable material. In the construction preferred the tread portion is cut from sheet material which has a suitable and characteristic arrangement of textile s fabric and of rubber or vulcanizable material, and whose components are in adherent relation.

-As shown, the tread portion is composed of strips of textile fabric 3, preferably canvas, and vulcanizable material 4, preferably rubber, arranged in alternation and disposed transversely, the textile fabric strips 3 being preferably laminated and composed of several, e. 9. four or five, plies. The textile fabric of the tread portion may be fresh new stock orreclaimed stock, for example,

the fabric of old or discarded tire casir which may be prepared by stripping the rubber tire tread therefrom. \Vhere the tread portion is of the construction shown. 2'. e. composed of alternate'strips of canvas 3 and rubber 4, it is preferably prepared by forming a strip of indeterminate length composed of a layer of canvas and an associated layer of rubber, cutting the said strip into sections, building the sections by layers into a sheet structure in which the layers are caused to adhere together, for example, by means of the use of an adhesive material and the subjection of the sheet structure to pressure, and cutting from the sheet structure a tread portion of the outline desired.

As regards whole soles, in case the tread portion occupies only a part of the area of the whole sole the latter is built up to suitable thickness, preferably to the thickness of the tread portion by the application throughout the rest of its area of a member 5 which, like the tread portion, may be initially secured to the'base 1 by suitable cement or adhesive material. \Vhere, as shown, the tread portion 2 is located in the forward portion of the whole sole, the member 5 conforms to the shank and heel portions of said sole, said member may be composed entirely of rubber or equivalent Vulcanizable material or of laminated fabric or it may be composed of layers of vulcanizable material, 6. g. rubber, and laminated fabric. As shown, said member is composed of a relatively thin sheet of rubber 6 which is arranged in adjacency to the base 1 and a somewhat thicker sheet of laminated canvas 7 which is secured to the sheet of rubber 6. In any case the member 5 .will be strong, durable and readily flexible. As composed in whole or in part of laminated fabric the stock of the member 5 may be fresh or reclaimed, e. g. the canvasmay be derived from old or discarded tire casings. In either case the canvas should be thoroughly impregnated with a compound of vulcanizable material.

The sole is preferably completed by a marginal supporting strip 9 of vulcanizable material, preferably rubber, which may, or may not, have textile fabric incorporated therewith, the tread portion 2 being arranged within said strip whose inner edge adjoins and conforms in outline to the edgeof said tread portion. As preferred, the base 1 has a marginal projecting portion 8 of suitable width upon which the strip 9 is laid. As regards the construction shown, the combined area of the tread portion 2 and the member 5 is less than the area of the base 1 whereby said tread portion and member may be so arranged on said base that the latter will have a )ro'ectim )ortion which constitutes the aforesaid marginal portion 8 and preferably entirely circumscribes the inal su )ortin stri 9 of vulcanizable ma- 21 D terial is laid on the marginal portion 8 in the same plane as the tread portion 2 and member 5, said strip being co-extensive with said marginal portion and initially secured in any suitable manner, preferably by suitable cement or adhesive material. The strip 9 may be continuous or it may be formed in juxtaposed complementary sections.

The finished sole, as shown in Fig. 3, is vulcanized throughout, the pressure employed preferably being exceptionally heavy and the vulcanization effecting the most secure and permanent union of the adjacent parts. Thus the rubber or equivalent material of the tread portion is united with'the utmost security to the textile fabric of the tread portion, the tread portion as an entirety is similarly united to the base 1, which, if composed of laminated fabric, has its laminae similarly united, the supporting strip 9, if employed as preferred, is similarly united both to the base 1 and the tread portion 2, having a homogeneous union with the rubber or equivalent material of said tread portion, and the member 5, if employed, is similarly united to the tread portion, the base 1 and the supporting strip 9. Where said member is composed of the rubber and canvas sheets 6 and 7 a similar permanent union of said sheets and of the laminae of the canvas sheet is likewise effected.

If desired, but merely as a measure adopted out of an abundance of precaution, the base may, subsequent to the vulcanization of the sole, be connected by stitching 10 to the above described parts bonded thereto and to one another, the stitching being preferably provided in parallel rows and along the supporting strip 9. v

Either before or after the vulcanization of the-sole the parts thereof which are or may be composed of textile fabric, may, if desired, be treated for the purpose of enhancing the durability of the fabric and of giving it efficient moisture proof qualities, such treatment consisting in forcing into the fabric under pressure any suitable compound for the purpose in view, for example, a compound having a base of paraffin, wood tar pitch, or rubber or a compound of varnish and siccative.

' It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the improved sole may be manufactured at relatively low cost and with great facility; and that the textile fabric of which it is composed in principal part, may, as a matter of economy, be reclaimed from old or discarded tire casings. The finishedsole possesses a substantial measure of flexibility, and owing to the permanence and security of the bond among its parts *ofesa-id tread portion, said supporting strip has greatly superior durability and wearing qualities. \Vithout the introduction of any manufacturing complications the construction admits of the employment of a rela- 5 tively extensive anti-skidding tread portion j; substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible 15 base, a tread portion secured to the under side of said base and composed of textile I fabric and vulcanizable material, both presented to the tread surface, said base being of greater area than the tread portion and the latter being arranged whereby said base has a marginal portion projecting beyond the tread portion, and a supporting strip of vulcanizable material laid on said marginal portion in the planeof said tread portion, the sole being vulcanized whereby the components of the tread portion are permanently bonded to one another and the tread and the supporting strip are bonded to one another and to the base, the union of the supporting strip and the vulcanizable material of the tread portion being homogeneous.

2. A sole for boots or shoes having a substantially fiat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof, a tread portion disposed thereon and composed of teX- te tile fabric and vulcanizable material, both presented to the tread surface, the base having an overhanging marginal portion ciricumscribing said tread portion, and a supportingstrip of vulcanizable material disposed on said marginal portion in the plane and saicL-tread portion being vulcanized to one another and to said base.

8. A sole for boots or shoes'having a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof, a tread portion disposed thereon and composed of alternate parallel strips of canvas and vulcanizable material, both presented to the tread surface,

- the base having an overhanging marginal portion circumscribing said tread portion and a supporting strip of vulcanizable material disposed on said marginal portion in the plane of said tread portion, said supporting strip and said tread portion being vulcanized to one another and to said base.

4:. A sole for boots or shoes having a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof, a tread portion disposed thereon and composed of alternate parallel strips of canvas and vulcanizable material presented to the tread surface, and a marginal supporting strip of vulcanizable .material within which the said tread portion is arranged, said supporting strip and said tread portion being vulcanized to one another and to said base.

5. A sole for boots or shoes comprising a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof, a tread portion having components of textile material presented to the tread surface and a marginal supporting strip Within which the tread portion is arranged, the supporting strip and the tread portion being vulcanized to one another and to the base.

6. A sole for boots or shoes comprising a substantiall flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof, a tread portion having components of textile material presented to the tread surface and a marginal supporting strip Within which the tread portion is arranged, said base having a marginal portion upon which the supporting strip is laid and the supporting strip and the tread portion being vulcanized to one another and to the base.

7. A sole for boots or shoes comprising a substantially fiat, relatively thin and flexible laminated canvas base, a tread portion having components of textile material presented to the tread surface and a marginal supporting strip Within which the tread portion is arranged, the supporting strip and the tread portion being vulcanized to one another and to the base. i

8. A sole for boots or shoes comprising a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible laminated canvas base, a tread portion having components presented to the tread surface and a marginal supporting strip within which the tread portion is arranged, said base having a marginal portion upon which the supporting strip is laid and the supporting strip and the tread portion being ble base conforming in area and outline to the whole sole, a tread portion originally separate from said base and having components of textilematerial presented to the tread surface, said tread portion being vulcanized to the forward portion of said base,

and a shank and heel member disposed in the rear of said tread portion and vulcanized thereto and to said base, said member including a sheet of laminated ca'nvas.

y 11. A sole for boots or shoes compris-- ing a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material'dispo'sed in. the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof conforming in area and outline to the whole I sole, a tread portion having components of textile material presented 'to the tread surface, said tread portion being vulcanized to the forward portion of said-base, a shank and heel member disposed in the rear of said tread portion and vulcanized thereto and to said base, and a marginal supporting strip Within which said tread portion and member are arranged, said strip being vulcanized to said tread portion and said member and also to said base.

12. A sole for boots or shoes comprising a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material-disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof conforming in area-and. outline to the whole sole, a tread portion having components-of textile ma terial presented to the tread'surface, said tread portion being vulcanized to the forward portion of said base, ashank and heel member disposed in the rear of said tread portion and vulcanized thereto and to said base, and a marginal supporting strip with- .in which said tread portion and member are arranged, said base having a marginal portion upon which said strip is laid, said strip being vulcanized to said tread portion and said member and also to the marginal v ,area and outline to the whole sole, a tread portion of said base.

13. A sole for boots or shoes comprising a I substantially flat, relativelythin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes,

strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof conforming in area and outline to the whole sole, 'a tread portion originally separate from said base and having components of textile material presented to the tread surface, said tread portion occupying a part of the area of the wholesole and being vulcanized to the base, and a member occupying the rest of the area of the whole sole and also vulcanized to the base and to the tread portion said member building up the portion of the sole in which y it is located to a desired thickness.

14. A sole for boots or shoes comprising i a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands offibrous material disposed in the 330 plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof conforming in area and outline to the whole solo, a tread portion originally separate from said base and having components of textile material presented to the tread surface, said tread portion occupying a part of the area of the whole sole and being vulcanized to the base, and a member occupying the rest of the area of the whole sole and also vulcanized a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof conforming in area and outline to the whole sole, a tread portion originally separate from said base and having components of textile material presented to the tread surface, said tread portion occupying a part of the area of thei whole sole and being vulcanized to the base, a 'member occupying the rest of the area of the whole sole and also vulcanized to the base and to the tread portion, said member building up the portion of the sole in which it is located to a desired thickness, and a marginal supporting strip within which said tread. portion and member are arranged, said strip being vulcanized to said tread portion and said member and also to said base. 16. A sole for boots or shoes comprising a substantially flat, relatively thin and flexible reinforcing base whose structure includes strands of fibrous material disposed in the plane of the base and regularly arranged throughout the area thereof conforming in portion originally separate from said base and having components of textile material presented to the tread surface, said tread a member occupying the rest of the area of the whole sole and also vulcanized to the base and to the tread portion, said member building up the portion of the sole in which it is located to a desired thickness and a marginal supporting strip within which said tread portion and member are arranged, said base having a marginal portion upon which said strip is laid, said strip being vulcanized to said tread portion and said 10 member and also to the marginal portion of said base.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence ofthe subscribing 

